In the Subway by Molly Hakes
The subway, chikatetsu, is the fastest way to get around the city. Japan's subways are clean and comfortable — as long as it's not rush hour. Each station has several signs in both Japanese and roomaji stating the name of the stop.
Maps within the train may or may not have Roman lettering.
Walking is another great way to explore, but knowing where you are can be a challenge. Possibly the most essential phrase when asking directions is “[destination] wa doko desu ka.” Master it and your mobility in Japan will increase tenfold.
Kuukoo wa doko desu ka.
Where is the airport?
Basutei wa doko desu ka.
Where is the bus stop?
Takushii noriba wa doko desu ka.
Where is the taxi stand?
Directions Vocabulary
massugu |
straight |
hidari |
left |
migi |
right |
magatte, magaru, magarimasu |
to turn |
kado |
(street) corner |
koko |
here |
soko |
there |
asoko |
over there |
chikai |
close |
chikatetsu no eki |
subway station |
doko |
where |
gawa |
side |
michi |
street |
eki |
train station |
Here's a sample conversation for asking directions to a subway station:
Traveler: |
Sumimasen, koko kara ichiban chikai chikatetsu no eki wa doko desu ka. |
|
Excuse me, where is the nearest subway station from here? |
Passerby: |
Sou desu ne. Kono michi wo massugu ni itte, asoko no kado de, hidari ni magarimasu. Soshite, mata massugu ni itte, tsugi no kado de migi ni magatte, soko ga eki desu. |
|
Hmmm. Go straight on this road and turn left at that street corner. Then, continue going straight and at the next corner turn right. There is the station. |
Traveler: |
Michi no dochira gawa ni arimasu ka. |
|
Which side of the street? |
Passerby: |
Migi gawa ni arimasu. |
|
It is on the right side. |
Traveler: |
Wakarimashita. Doomo arigatoo gozaimashita. |
|
I see. Thank you very much. |
Directions can be challenging to follow even in your own language. Remembering the basics like “left,” “right,” and “straight ahead” will keep you on track.
You may sometimes hear the word for hand, te, substituted for gawa, when receiving directions. For example, migi te ni means “on your right hand side”; hidari te ni means “on your left.”
Revisiting the Tricksters
How many times did you see the prepositions de and ni in the previous dialogue? Now you can see why people get confused about which one to use where. Notice that ni indicates direction while de shows the scene of some action.
Massugu ni itte.
Go straight.
Hidari ni magaru.
Turn left.
Asoko no kado de.
At that corner.
Notice, also, the double consonant plus -te endings on itte and magatte.
These are the imperative (command) forms of the verbs, “to go” and “to turn.” A -te ending can also be used when the sentence is compound (when there is more than one verb in the sentence).
Massugu ni itte, hidari ni magarimasu.
Go straight, turn left.
Hidari ni magatte, soko ga eki desu.
Turn left, and there is the train station.
Migi ni magatte, massugu ni ikimasu.
Turn right, go straight.
Notice the first verb, itte, has a -te ending whereas the second verb is the regular polite form with -masu. In this case, the -te is doing double duty; it is giving a command, but also identifying itself as the first in a series of verbs. Whether there are two verbs, or five verbs in the same sentence, the -te suffix is used for all the verbs except the last one. The final verb in the list is conjugated with the tense-appropriate ending, depending on the context of the sentence.
Localities
Soko and asoko also need some clarification. Both terms are used to discuss something at a distance. Which one to use is determined by the visibility of the topic of conversation.
Soko can be used in reference to something either in-sight of or unseen by the speaker. In the previous dialogue, the Japanese person says, Soko ga eki desu, but the station cannot be seen by the speaker. Asoko is only used when the subject of the conversation is in plain view. The speaker refers to the street corner visible from where the pair are conversing: Asoko no kado de… When wondering which term to use, check for visibility first.
Train travel, though expensive, is an efficient way to get around Japan. A vast network of lines span out in all directions from most major cities. Local trains are also useful for exploring the vicinity around large cities like Kyooto (Kyoto) and Tookyoo.
Ticket Counters and Turnstiles
Depending on where you are, the map above the ticket machines may or may not have the station stops written in roomaji. Several lines may be displayed at once, but do not be deceived by their colors. Like Shibuya fashion, maps and platforms are not necessarily color-coordinated.
In order to determine your ticket fare, it is essential to know where you are going. The cost of your trip will be written underneath the destination on the guide-map above the ticket machines. Fellow travelers can probably help you figure out the cost of your trip:
Sumimasen, shibuya made wa o-ikura desu ka.
Excuse me, how much does it cost to go to Shibuya?
If you know the name of the subway line or station stop but the map is all in kanji, you can ask someone nearby for assistance:
Sumimasen, ano chizu de, Shibuya wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me, where is Shibuya on that map?
Kono, sono, and ano parallel koko, soko, and asoko in terms of perspective and visibility. Like asoko, ano refers to something that both parties can see. Sono can be in reference to something previously discussed, or towards something closer to the listener.
